Mayor Karen Bass signs accessibility commitment for 2028 Olympics: 'We will be ready'

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- As part of the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), city leaders are making sure Los Angeles is accessible to all during the 2028 Olympics.

Mayor Karen Bass hosted a special event Friday where she signed an official Games Host City Accessibility Commitment, vowing to ensure the Olympic Games are inclusive for everyone.

"When you interact in the Paralympic Village and you see the challenges that people go through, not just to survive day to day, but to excel and to thrive and to move into excellence in terms of being an athlete, so we will be ready," said Bass. "We'll be ready for the Olympics, and we will be very ready for the Paralympics."

Team USA Paralympian Jack O'Neil also attended Friday's event, hoping to spread awareness.

"I think it's incredible because spectators are the heart of why athletes like us want to compete, so making sure that people in wheelchairs and people with visual impairments or hearing impairments are able to witness these kinds of things and not only just witness the games but also enjoy the great city of Los Angeles far after the games are over is of the utmost importance," he said. "I'm glad our organizing committee and leaders are on the same page as people with disabilities."

The city said it's also implemented of a Games Accessibility Plan and appointed the city's first Accessibility Chief within the Office of Major Events.

Plus, the Department on Disability and Braille Institute worked together to install Braille translation for the Olympic and Paralympic Flag display in City Hall.

"My experience as a Paralympian taught me that the greatest barriers aren't always physical - they're attitudinal," said Scott Blanks, the Vice President of Accessibility and Employment at Braille Institute. "The Paralympics are a powerful reminder of human potential, and LA28 can be a catalyst - not just for athletes on the world stage, but for every Angeleno with a disability seeking access, opportunity, and respect. Let the 35th anniversary of the ADA be more than a celebration - let it be a call to action. And let the promise of LA28 galvanize us to build a Los Angeles that is truly inclusive and accessible to all."